Tool for spreading battery terminals



July 2, 1929. s, s R 1.719.311

TOOL FOR SPREADING BATTERY TERMINALS Filed Aug. 15, 1927 rill Mu 3%lifl Patented July 2, 1929.

UNlTED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

TOOL FOR SPREADING BATTERY TERMINALS.

Application filed August 15, 1927.

The present invention relates to improvements in tools, and relates more specifically to an improved type of tool especially well adapted for use in the removing of cable connectors or terminals from the binding posts of secondary batteries.

\Vhen removing storage batteries from automobiles or from their connections with other electrical apparatus, either for the purpose of recharging or making repairs to the battery, it is necessary to remove the terminals from the binding posts of the battery before the same can be removel to the desired location. The majority of these battery terminals as now in common use, are provided with split clamping portions which are adapted to be slipped over the binding post of the battery and be drawn into tight electrical contact with the binding post as by means of a clamping bolt which when drawn tight serves to contract the split clamping portion about the binding post. These clamping bolts, while ordinarily made from a hard metal of a non-corrosive nature, are

' subjected to strong acids from the battery and corrode to such an extent that the bolts become fixed to the split clamping portion of the terminal in a manner whereby loosening of the clamping nut will not allow ready spreading of the clamping portion for removal of the terminal from the binding post. It also occurs in some instances that the terminal, due to corrosion, becomes affixed to the binding post so that the terminal cannot be readily removed from the post without liability of injuring the battery construction. lVith the present type of terminal removers, a means is employed whereby the terminal is forced from the binding post without first freeing of the clamping bolt, with the result that the terminal resists ready movement off the binding post. After the terminal has been thus forced off the binding post, in this manner, the clamping bolt must then be freed from the arms of the clamping portion of the terminal for allowing the clamping portion to be spread suiliciently for allowing the terminal to be freely slipped over the bind ing post when again attaching the same. These splittypes of battery terminals also have openings of different widths provided between the clamping arms owing to the construction of the terminals and also the varying diameters of the terminal posts of differ- Serial No. 213,065.

ent batteries, some of which will permit of the clamping arms being moved relatively near to one another owing to the small diameter of the battery binding post.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved tool for spreading battery terminals in an efficient manner for effectively freeing the terminal regardless as to the space formed between the clamping arms when the terminal is affixed to the battery binding post.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel tool of this character whereby the clamping bolts will be freed and the terminal expanded in one operation for permitting of the terminal being freely lifted off the battery binding post when again applied thereto without requiring further operation upon the terminal before application of the same to the binding post.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tool for spreading battery terminals, which may be effectively used for spreading the clamping arms of the terminal while applied to the inding post, without likelihood of injury being done either to the terminal or to the binding post during the spreading operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved type of terminal spreader and clamping bolt freer, which is of extremely simple and durable construction and which device may be readily used in connection with various sizes and types of split bat tery terminals for allowing the terminals to be easily lifted from their clamping positions about the battery binding post.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a. part of this specification and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved terminal releasing tool.

Figure 2 is a view'illustrating one manner in which the tool may be inserted between the lugs of a conventional type of split terminal for freeing the clamping bolt thereof and also expanding the clamping portion of the terminal from about the battery binding post in one operation.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2 and showing the manner in which'the tool will act to free the terminal from its connection with the binding post and also free the clamping bolt-j Figure 4 is a View illustrating a second manner of use of the tool for freeing the clamping bolt and expanding the clamping port-ion of the terminal when considerable space is formed betweenthe clamping lugs of the terminal. v

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view'part in section and part in ielevation andshowing the manner in which the improved tool acts for releasing the terminal without being limited in its movement ,either by the binding post ,or the clamping bolt of the terminal.

Ref 'ring to the drawing in detail, and whereinsimilar. reference characters desighate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A designates'the upper portion of a conventional type of battery bindingpost, adapted to receive a conventional type of split cable connector or terminal B,

and G the improvedv tool for spreading the terminal B and permitting the same to be easily and freelywithdrawn from the binding post A...

. The terminalB, which is of the conventional split type, embodies a head portion 5 provided with the usual socket 6 for receiving one endvof a cable inthe usual manner, and a clamping, portion 7 adapted to beclamped about thejbinding post A The clamping portion 7 comprises the usual clamping arms whichare formed at their inner ends with arcuat'e shaped clamping portions 8 which form an open circular shaped bore adapted to receive the cylindrical binding post A. Pro videda tthe outer or free end of each of the arcuate shaped clamping portions 8 are enlargements or 9 and 9' being normally spaced from one'another and provided with aligning bores 10which extend transversely ofthe arms thru themedial portions of the lugs; with the axes of the bores extending in right angular relation to the axis of the binding post As'wil l readily be apparent; the space' or opening between the confrontingfaces ofthe lugs 9 andS. will vary in accordance with the diameter of the hindfronting, faces of the lugs.

A clamping bolt-for contracting of the arcuate clamping portion 8 about the binning post'A. hasits head 12;adapted to-engage the 'outerface of the lug 9 and has the threaded shank portion 13 thereof extending thru the aligning bores 10 and projecting past the out or face of the lug 9. Threaded upon the projeciing end of the shank 13 is a nut 14 which when turned into binding engagement with the lug 9 acts to force the lugs 9 and 9 toward one another and thus contract the arcuate clamping portions 8 about the cylindrical binding post A. As will be obvious, when the clamping portions 8 are drawn into binding engagement with the post A, the lugs S) and fl are still spaced apart and provide an opening between the lugs when the clamping portions 8 are fully contracted about the binding post.

Referring now to the improved terminal releasing tool C, the same is preferably formed of steel and comprises a straight shank portion provided at one end with a working head 21 of a novel construction. The shank portion 20 may be of any suitable length and may either be of cylindrical or octagonal shape in cross section as shown. It is preferred, however, that the shank portion 20 be of polygonal shape in erosssection for permitting of the same. being easily held against rotation while being used.

The working head 21 is. provided with a terminally opening, longitudinally extending slot 22 forming independent major and minor tines or prongs 23 and 24 respectively having their major axes extending in parallel relation and longitudinally of the shank 20. Each of the tines 23 and 24 are of substantially flat formation and preferably of, equal thickness thruout their length and are of substantially wedge shape in formation as clearly illustrated in the drawing. These substantially wedge shaped tines 23 and 24 have their inner confronting faces disposed in parallel relation to one another with the spacing between the confronting faces of the tines substantially equal to the diameter of the shank 13 of the terminal clamping bolt. The opposed or outer faces of the tines are also disposed in parallel relation to one another and are oifset outwardly from the longitudinal surfaces 25 of the shank 20 as clearly illustrated in Figure 6.

These wedge shaped tines 23 and 24, are

of unlike formation as to their wedgeacting formation, with the ma or tine23 being of greater widththan that of the minor tine 24. By observing particularly Figures 1 and'4, it will be seen that the narrow wedge forming edges of the major time 23 diverge to a greater degree from the point 31 than ,do the wedge forming edges 32 of the minor tine 24 from the point 33. Thus it will be seen that the major tine 23 will have greater expanding action than that of the minor tine 24 owing to the fact that the tine 23 is of greater width at a given location from the point 31 than that of the tine 24. Thus it will be seen that the working head 21 embodies a pair of wedge-like tines having lit) their major surfaces disposed in parallel planes and with one of the wedge-like tines being of a taper greater than that of the companion tine.

The tines :23 and 21 are relatively thin so as to permit of either of the tines being disposed between the clamping bolt shank 13 and terminal post A as illustrated in Fig ures 3 and 5. The crotch or inner end of the slot 22 when engaging the clamping bolt shank 13 will limit downward movement of the tool when being used and prevent possible injury to the cover plate of the battery, and by so having the space between the tines substantially equal to the diameter of the clamping bolt shank, the outermost tine will serve as a guide for holding the innermost tine away from the binding post by engaging the bolt shank as in Figures .3 and 5.

lVhen using the improved terminal releasing tool, the clamping bolt nut 14 is first backed on the shank 13 out of binding engagement with the lug 9 and then the head of the tool inserted between the confronting faces of the lugs 9 and 9' with the tines 23 and 24- disposed at opposite sides of the clamping bolt shank 13. The upper end of the shank 20 may then be tapped lightly with a hammer for wedging the tines between the lugs 9 and 9, and which action will tend to force the lugs apart and consequently the arenate-shaped clamping portions 8 to an eX- panded position about the binding 'post A. This forced spreading of the lugs 9 and 9 not only expands the clamping portions 8 but also causes the lug 9 to be moved longitudinally along the clamping bolt shank 13 in a manner whereby a corroded joint between the lug 9 and clamping bolt shank will be broken and allow ready expansion of the clamping portions 8. Thus it will be seen that the improved tool first expands the clamping portions 8 by first freeing the lug 9 from the shank 13 and then expands the clamping portions 8 about the binding post for allowing ready removal of the terminal otf the post.

As before stated, and with the usual type of terminal lifters or pullers, the terminal is forced from the binding post and then the clamping bolt freed from the terminal for allowing the terminal to be expanded to a position whereby the same may be replaced upon the binding post, while with the improved tool herein shown. the clamping bolt is first freed and then the terminal expanded with one operation and which allows for the terminal to be freely slipped off the binding post.

Referring ]')articularly to Figures 2 and 3 and wherein but a narrow opening or space has been left between the clamping lugs 9 and 9', it will be seen that the minor tine 24 will act for expanding the terminal, while in Figures 4 and 5, the major tine 23 is shown being used for expanding the terminal where a considerable space is shown between the lugs 9 and 9. The outer end of the majority of terminal lug. are beveled or cut away as at 35 and which construction prevents the tine at the outer side of the clamping bolt shank to properly act as an expanding means for the lugs and therefore the most efiective tine for expanding the lugs, acts upon the lugs inwardly of the clamp bolt shank. Thus it will be seen that it is merely necessary to reverse the tines 23 and 24 for proper spreading of the clam 'iing portions in accordance with the spacing formed between the lugs 9 and 9'. That if considerable space is provided between the lugs. the major tine 2; will be used. while it there is but a narrow space between the logs, the minor tine 24 will serve for etl'ective spreading of the terminal. In use of the tool as illustrated in Figure 3, it will be seen that the tines engage the lugs 9 and 9' at each side of the clamping bolt shank 13 in a manner whereby both of the wedge tines act to spread the lugs for freeing the terminal.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a novel and improved terminal releasing tool has been provided for use in connection with split battery terminals whereby the clamping port ion of the terminal may be expanded and the clamping bolt of the terminal freed for permitting easy removal of the terminal from the battery binding post and allowing for ready positioning of the terminal on the binding post. It will also be apparent that a novel tool of this type has been provided which may be effectively used upon binding posts of battery terminals having different spacings between the clamping lugs when the terminal is in clamping relation about the binding post.

Changes in detail may be made to the specific form of the invention herein shown and described. without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A terminal releasing tool embodying a straight shank portion having a terminally opening slot at one end thereof providing a pair of independent wedge-shaped tines be ing of equal thickness thruout their length and with one of said tines having a greater taper than the companion tine.

2. A terminal releasing tool embodying a straight shank portion having a pair of independent wedge-shaped tines provided at one end thereof with one of said tines having the dimension. at its base greater than the dimension of the base portion of the companion wedge-shaped tine.

3. A terminal releasing tool embodying a straight shank portion having a pair of independent wedge-shaped tines provided at one end thereof, said tines tapering unequally lie from their pointed ende and arranged with the planes of their major dimensions in Pillilllol relation.

4-. .1 terminal releasing tool embodying a straight shank portion having :1 pair of independent wedge-shaped tines termed at one end thereof, said tines having nneqinil tapers :ind hein arranged with their major snrfziees in parallel planes.

5. A. terminal releasing tool embodying 2b s-tl'night shank portion having a pair of independent wedge-shaped tineh formed at one end thereof. with one oi mid tines lnning' n ore-titer taper than that oi the eonipanion tiniu r uid tines eneh lwinn' oi eqnul thit-le ness tlirnont their length and arranged with their major confronting and opposed surfaces in parallel planes.

6. A tool or releasing split buttery tenninzili; ineluding clamping portions provided with lugs thin which a clamping bolt extends wi h the nheinlz thereof spaced from the battery binding post, comprising a straight shank portion having a bifurcated end forming :1 pair of independent wedge-shaped tines having unlike tapers, and each being of a l'lliFlKNLSH no greater than the thiekness between the binding post and shank of the clamping; bolt.

MYRLE e. SARGENT. 

